Railroad-rail.



No. 888,988. PATENTED MAY 26, 1908.

- 8 FRANCIS.

RAILROAD RAIL.

APPLICATION II A G. 190

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No. 888,988. PATENTED MAY 26, 1908.

v J. FRANCIS.

RAILROAD RAIL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1907. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2" Hi H S 8 w iwmnfo'rowih1066 I Isa/0k {77 207673 JOSEPH FRANCIS, OF MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY.

RAILROAD-RAIL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1908.

Application filed August 7, 1907. Serial No. 387,514.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH FRANCIS, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Morristown, in the county of Morris and State ofNew Jersey, have invented newand useful Improvements in RailroadRails,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railroad rails; and it has for its objects toprovide an improved rail having means, integral therewith adapted tofacilitate the joining or connecting of said rail with an abutting railof corresponding or mating construction.

A further object of the invention is to rovide an improved rail havingan overapping head adapted to be partly supported upon the web of theabutting rail.

Further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve theconstruction and operation of this class of devices.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in theimproved construction and novel arrangement and combination of partswhich will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferredform of the invention; it being however understood that no limitation isnecessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited,but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of theinvention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing several railsconstructed in accordance with the invention, the rails being connectedto each other or joined together for operation. Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview showing. one end of the improved rail. Fig. 3 is a perspective viewshowing the opposite end of the rail. Fig. 4 is a top plan view showingseveral rails joined together. Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly insection, of the several rails shown in Fig. 2, the joints being shown insection. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the planeindicated by the line 66in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional viewtaken on the plane indicated by the line T 7 in Fig. 5.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by likecharacters of reference.

The improved rail, A is provided as one end with a recess 1, formed byremoving a portion of the rail head 2; and the terminal end of the railhead thus produced is provided with a projecting tapering lug 3extending in the direction of the end of the rail, and overhanging theweb 4 or the portion of said web from which the head has been removed.The web 4 is provided adjacent to the end of the rail, with alongitudinal flange 5 that projects upwardly into the recess 1.. The

opposite end of the rail, or the mating end of an adjacent or abuttingrail has an extended head portion 6 which is adapted to fill the recess1 said head portion being provided with a recess 7 in the upper sidethereof for the reception and accommodation of the lu O 3, and in itsunder side with a longitudina l groove 8 for the reception of the flange5.

The mating rail ends are provided with apertures 9 extendingtransversely through the webs thereof for the passage of bolts 10whereby fish plates 11 of ordinary construction are secured for thepurpose of joining the rail ends together.

The operation and advantages of the invention will be readily understoodfrom the foregoing description, when taken in connection with thedrawings hereto annexed.

When the mating rail ends are oined together, the projecting head ortion6 of one rail will be supported direct y upon the web 4 of the abuttingrail, thus making it absolutely im ossible for the rail'ends to be movedout of a inement vertically by any cause short of actual breakage; theinterengaging lug 3 and recess 7, and the flange 5 and groove 8 will, inlike manner, operate to prevent lateral displacement of the rail endswith relation to each other, and the fish lates and connecting boltswill practically be relieved from all strain; their only function beingto secure the rails against longitudinal displacement, and to couple therail ends together in proper relation.

I claim:

The combination of a pair of rail sections, each consisting of a base,web and head, one section having its head projected longitudinally atone end and provided with a longitudinal groove in its under surface anda central recess in its upper surface and extending inwardly from theend thereof, the other section having its head cut away to accommodatethe extending portion of the head of the plates and sections forsecuring the parts toadjacent section and provided With a ton ue gether.10 for fitting in the said recess, and a vertica ly- In testimonywhereof, I am); my signature extending longitudinal rib for fitting inthe in presence of two Witnesses.

said groove, said rib being located at the we JOSEPH FRANCIS. tremity ofthe rail section, fish-plates ar- Witnesses:

ranged on opposite sides of the rail sections, JOHN M. MILLS,

and fastenings passing through the fish- JAMES A. COLLINS.

